Pulsing switch



April 25, 1%? R. G. OLSON PULSING SWITCH Filed June 2l, 1965 UnitedStates Patent O 3,316,377 PULSING SWITCH Raymond G. Olson, Niles, lll., assigner to I ower Control Products, Inc., a corporation of Illinois Filed June 21, 1965, Ser. No. 465,439 11 Claims. (Cl. 200-160) This invention relates generally to pulsing switches, and more particularly to adjustably mechanically operated electrical pulsing switches.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel mechanically operated electrical pulsing switch which is adjustable to provide different periods of operation of the electrical contacts for the same mechanical operation of the switch.

It is a further object to provide novel means in a switch according to the preceding paragraph in which the range of adjustment of the pulse length is relatively wide.

It is a further object to provide a novel arrangement in switches according to the preceding paragraphs in which the switch construction is sturdy, accurate, positive acting, economical and easily adjustable.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent upon a perusal of the following specification and drawing in which:

FIGURE l is a side elevational view of a switch constructed according to the invention and with the cover removed;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the structure shown in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE l but with the various components of the invention partially in cross section to show the interior construction and cooperation of the various parts;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but showing the switch operated to close its electrical contacts; and

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4, but showing the mechanical operator at the end of its stroke with the electrical pulse being completed.

The present embodiment is the preferred embodiment but it is to be understood that changes can be made in the present embodiment by one skilled in the art without departing from the lspirit and scope of the invention.

Generally, the subject invention comprises a compact switch which is mounted in a relatively small case or housing. A plunger or shaft extends outwardly of the case, and mechanically depressing the shaft causes the switch to pulse. The switch assembly is in the present embodiment of the class generally known in the art as microswitches. The operating shaft extends through a bushing which is threaded into a housing. The axis of the shaft is eccentrically located of the axis of the bushing. The inner end of the shaft carries a threaded collar which has an annular surface which is inclined both radially and axially of the shaft. The micro-switch in the case is provided with a small roller assembly which is carried on the end of the switch arm somewhat in the manner of a spring biased pawl assembly. By rotating the bushing which carries the shaft, the collar on the shaft is effectively moved radially toward and away from the roller assembly on the switch armature. Thus it may be seen that if the bushing is rotated so that only the tip of the collar engages the roller assembly on the switch arm when the shaft is moved longitudinally of the bushing, the switch arm will be depressed to close the micro-switch contacts a relatively short period of time. When the tip of the collar passes the roller assembly as shown in FIGURE 5, the switch contacts are again opened. Thus the electrical pulse is one of a relatively short duration. Upon the return stroke of the shaft, the roller assembly is freely ICC pushed aside by the collar without causing any pulsing of the switch. In other words, for each depression of the shaft one electrical pulse is formed by the micro-switch and release of the shaft restores it for the next operation. By rotating the bushing so that more of the surface of the collar remains in contact with the roller assembly during depression of the shaft, the length of the pulse may be correspondingly increased.

Because of the permitted adjustability of pulse length and shaft stroke the invention has wide application in controlling many different electrically operated devices. For example, the switch may be used to provide a simple -time delay between the operation of two devices.

In detail, the drawings show the case or housing 10 of the switch assembly with the cover removed. Any form of cover arrangement may be provided to enclose the parts as shown in FIGURE 1. Within the housing 10, three sub-assemblies 11, 12 and 13 are provided. Sub-assembly 11 is the switch operating and pulse adjusting means. Subassembly 12 is a switch assembly constructed and arranged according to the invention, and sub-assembly 13 is a female connector assembly.

The sub-assembly 11 comprises a housing member 15 which is secured to the wall 16 with one end of the housing 15 terminating at the side wall 17. The wall 16 is also provided with the other extending side walls 18, 20 and 21. The housing 15 is provided with a spring chamber 23 disposed between an opening 24 through one end thereof and tapped opening 25 through the opposite end thereof which terminates at the side wall 17. A threaded bushing member 26 is adapted to be received in the tapped opening 25. The hole extending longitudinally through the bushing member 26 is eccentrically positioned relative to the outer threaded surface. A lock nut 27 is threaded on the bushing member 26 to secure the bushing member 26 in any rotated position thereof relative to the housing 15. An operating shaft or plunger 28 is adapted to be carried through the eccentric opening of the bushing member 26 with both end portions of the shaft 28 extending outwardly of each end of the bushing member 26. One end portion of the shaft 28 extends through the spring chamber 23, the opening 24 and outwardly of the housing 15 toward the side wall 18. The portion of the shaft 28 which is positioned within the spring chamber 23 is of a reduced diameter and carries rings 30 and 31 thereon. A compressed coiled spring 32 is positioned between ring 31 and the inner wallvof the spring chamber 23 adjacent opening 24. The ring 30 is disposed outwardly of the opening 24 of the housing 15 so that the coiled spring 32 biases the shaft 28 to the restored or unoperated position such as shown in FIGURE l and 3. In the restored position, the end of the shaft 28 which extends outwardly of the knurled end of the bushing 26 is in its outwardmost position. If that end of the shaft 28 is depressed, the other end of the shaft 28 is moved further inwardly of the housing 10 such as shown in FIG- URES 4 and 5. FIGURES 4 and 5 show two different longitudinal positions of the shaft 28. The extending end of the shaft 28 within the housing 10 is threaded and provided with a collar 35. The collar 35 is provided with an inclined surface 36. The surface 36 may be defined as inclined both radially and axially of the shaft 28 in a direction toward the housing 15. The inclined surface 36 is annular so that as the shaft 28 is rotated, the same surface configuration is presented in any one radial direction.

The sub-assembly 12 comprises an insulated housing 40 carrying a pair of normally open contacts 41 and 42. The contacts 41 and 42 may be formed of a resilient material, or may each include a spring member in cooperation therewith biasing the contacts 41 and 42 to the normally open position. Contact 42 is provided with a shoulder 43 which extends outwardly of they housing 40. When the shoulder 43 is depressed into the housing 40,'the contacts 41 and 42 are closed as shown in FIGURE 4. The assembly 12 further comprises a switch operating arm 44. One end of the arm 44 is pivotally carried on the housing 40 with the intermediate .portion of the arm 44 extending over and in contact with the shoulder 43. The extending end of the arm 44 is provided with a pawl assembly 47. The pawl assembly 47 comprises a member 48 which is pivotally connected by pivotal means 50 on the extending end of arm 44. The member48 is internally provided with a spring and has a shoulder such that the member 48 is spring biased to extend substantially perpendicularly from the arm 44 with the member 48 being pivotal against the spring bias downwardly toward the arm 44 in a direction toward the pivotal mounting means 45. Because of the shoulder the member 48 is not pivotal from the upstanding position in the other direction. The extending end, of the member 48 is provided with a roller 52.

The assembly 12 is so arranged and positioned on the wall 16 that when the shaft 28 is in the restored position shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, the roller 52 is positioned closely adjacent to the inclined surface 36 of the collar 35 so that depressing the shaft 28 as shown in FIGURE 4 causes the inclined surface 36 to move against the roller 52 to cause the arm 44 to` be pivoted against the shoulder 43 to close the contacts 41 and 42. After the tip of the inclined surface 36 of the collar 35 passes through a line through the pivotal mounting means 50 and the axis of the roller 52, the member 48 will be snapped downwardly toward the arm 44, and the spring biasing means of the contacts 41 and 42 will cause ythe arm 44 to be returned v to a yposition such as shown in FIGURE 5. Thus the electrical contacts 41 and 42 will have been closed and opened as a pulse. It may be seen that if the shaft 28 is released in a position such as shown in FIGURE 5, the

Y shaft 28 will be returned by the spring 32 to the position shown in FIGURES 1 and 3. The inclined surface 36 of the collar 35 will again engage the roller 52, but no clost ing of contacts 41 and 42Vwill occur since the member 48 will be merely pivoted downwardly toward arm 44 and freely permit the collar 35 to pass to the restored position shown in FIGURES 1 and 3. The length of the pulse formed by the operation of theswitch means, as described above for any depression of shaft '28 in a vunit period of time, will depend upon the particular rotated position of the bushing 26. When the bushing 26 is rotated so the Yaxis of the'shaft 28 is in its nearest` position tothe subassembly 12, thepulse will be ofpa maximum length. The t more that the'bushing 28 is rotated to move the axis of the shaft 28 away from the sub-assembly 12the more the electrical pulses will be shortened because lessof the inclined surface'36 of the collar 35 will move: into contact with roller 52as the axis of the shaft 28 is moved away fromthe switch assembly 12. i Once the bushing 26 has been rotated to provide the desired pulse length, the lock nut 27, may be tightened vto maintain that adjusted kposition. o

Theassembly 13 as may be seen in'FIGURES 3 through comprises a female connector assembly. An'insulated housing 55is secured tothe wall 16. Conductors 57 and 53 connect each of the plugs 56 to one of the contacts 41 and42. Any conventional male connector member may beinserted in the assembly 13 to carry the pulse to some electrical device. Y

.Having describedthe invention what is considered new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1.*An electrical switch comprising, a pair of switch contacts operable to define a pulse, lever means operable to one position to operate said contacts to one position and VVoperating responsive to a release thereof to restore said contacts threby defining a pulse, ashaft having radial- 1y extending collar means thereon, means for carrying said shaft for longitudinal reciprocating movement so that said collar means engage-s said lever means to operate said lever means to said one position responsive to a longitudinal -movement of said shaft, and means carrying said last mentioned means for adjusting the spacing between said shaft and said lever means to vary the length of -time said collar means engages said lever means during said longitudinal movement of said shaft.

2. An electrical switch comprising, a pair of switch contacts operable to dene a pulse, lever means -operable to one position to operate said contact to one position and operating responsive to a release thereof to restore said contacts thereby defining a pulse, a shaft having ra dially extending collar means thereon, a bushing member having vthe hole therethrough eccentrically positioned relative to the youter surface thereof, means engaging the outer surface of said bushing -member and supporting said bushing member in cooperation with said lever means, said shaft being carried by said bushing member for longitudinal reciprocating movement of said shaft so that said collar means is en'ga-geable with said lever means to operate said lever means to said one position responsive to a longitudinal movement of said shaft through said bushing member, yand said means supporting said bushing member being formed to permit selective rotation of said bushing member about the axis of the outer surface thereof for adjusting the spacing between said shaft and said lever means to vary the length of time said collar means engages said lever means during said longitudinal movement of lsaid shaft through said bushing member.

3. An electrical switch as defined in claim 2, and locking Imeans for securing said bushing member in any selected rotated position thereof.

4. In an electrical switch as defined in claim 2, wherein the outer surface of said bushing is threaded, Iand said means engaging the outer surface of said 'bushing and supporting said bushing comprising a tapped housing having said bushing threaded therein.

5. An electrical switch comprising, a pair of switch contacts xed at oneend thereof and cooperatively mowv able `at the other end thereof to define a pulse, lever means for moving said contacts to define a pulse, said lever meanscomprising a lever pivotally carried at one end thereof and cooperating intermediate the ends thereof with said pair of contacts to move said -contacts to one position responsive to .aV pivotal movement of said lever' responsive to a longitudinal movement of said shaft,V and` means carrying said last mentioned means for adjusting the spacing between said shaft yand said lever to vary the 'length of time lsaid annular surface yof said collar engages said -pawl assembly during said longitudinal movement of said shaft.

6. VIn an electrical switch as defined in claim 5, said spring biased pawl assembly being formed and positioned to permit said annular surface of said collar to pivot said lever to said one position for a period of time responsive to longitudinal movement of said `shaft in one direction and permitting a longitudinal restoring movement of said shaft in theother direction without pivoting said lever.

7. In `an electrical switch as defined in claim 6, and a roller rotatively carried on the extending end of said spring biased pawl assembly which is engaged by said annular surface of said collar.'

8. An electrical switch comprising, a wall member, a switch assembly secured to Vsaid wall 'mem-ber, said switch lassembly including switch terminals and lever means pivotable to one position to operate said switch and operat-A ing responsive to a release thereof to restore said switcli to thereby `dene a pulse at said switch terminals, a shaft havin-g radially extending collar means thereon, lbushing means ycarrying said shaft f-or longitudinal reciprocating movement relative thereto, means carried by said wall means for carrying said bushing means so that said shaft cooperates with said lever means so that said collar means engages said lever means to pivot said lever means to said one position to operate said switch assembly for a period of time responsive to a longitudinal movement of said shaft, and said last mentioned means `being formed to permit selective adjustment of said bushing means to vary the spacing between said shaft and said lever means to vary the length of time said collar means engages said lever means during said longitudinal movement of said shaft.

`9. An electrical switch comprising, a wall member, a switch assembly secured to said wall member, said switch assembly including switch terminals and lever means pivotable to one position to operate said switch assembly and operating responsive to a release thereof to restore said switch assembly to thereby `define a pulse at said switch terminals whe-reby the length of any defined pulse corresponds to the length of time said lever means is maintained in said one position, a shaft having radially extending collar means thereon, bushing means having the hole therethrough disposed eccentrically of the outer surface thereof with said shaft carried through said hole for longitudinal reciprocating movement Irelative to said bushing means, housing means on said wall means for carrying said bushing means so that said shaft cooperates with said lever means so that said collar means engages lsaid lever means to pivot said lever means to said one position for a period of time responsive to a longitudinal movement of said shaft, and said bushing means being rotatable in said housing means t-o selectively vary the spacing between said shaft and said lever means to vary the length of time said collar means pivots said lever means to said one position to vary the length of any pulse defined by the operation of said switch assembly.

10. In an electrical switch as defined in claim 9, wherein lthe louter surface of said bushing means is threaded and said housing means is tapped to receive said bushing means threaded therein, and 4a lock nut threaded on said bushing Ameans -outwardly 4of said housing means for locking said bushing means in any selected rotated position thereof.

11. In an electrical switch as `defined in claim 10, wherein said collar means further extends axially of said shaft, said lever means including a spring biased pawl assembly, a roller Irotatably carried on the outer extending end of said pawl assembly, said pawl assembly being positioned so that the roller thereof is engaged by the radially and axially extending collar means when said shaft is longitudinally reciprocated, said pawl assembly being formed so that longitudinal movement of said shaft in one direction causes pivoting of said lever means and longitudinal movement of said shaft in the other direction avoids any pivoting of said lever means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,919,333 12/1959 Scholin et al. 200-160 ROB-ERT K. S'CHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

H. HOHAUSER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN ELECTRICAL SWITCH COMPRISING, A PAIR OF SWITCH CONTACTS OPERABLE TO DEFINE A PULSE, LEVER MEANS OPERABLE TO ONE POSITION TO OPERATE SAID CONTACTS TO ONE POSITION AND OPERATING RESPONSIVE TO A RELEASE THEREOF TO RESTORE SAID CONTACTS THREBY DEFINING A PULSE, A SHAFT HAVING RADIALLY EXTENDING COLLAR MEANS THEREON, MEANS FOR CARRYING SAID SHAFT FOR LONGITUDINAL RECIPROCATING MOVEMENT SO THAT SAID COLLAR MEANS ENGAGES SAID LEVER MEANS TO OPERATE SAID LEVER MEANS TO SAID ONE POSITION RESPONSIVE TO A LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF SAID SHAFT, AND MEANS CARRYING SAID LAST MENTIONED MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE SPACING BETWEEN SAID SHAFT AND SAID LEVER MEANS TO VARY THE LENGHT OF TIME SAID COLLAR MEANS ENGAGES SAID LEVER MEANS DURING SAID LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF SAID SHAFT. 